Surname Toulson - Meaning and Origin
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Toulson: What does the surname Toulson mean?
The surname Toulson, prevalent in English language, is of patronymic origin and is believed to be derived from the personal name Tolle. The suffix 'son' stands for 'son of'. So, 'Toulson', would imply 'son of Tolle'. The given name Tolle is rooted in Old Norse 'Þóri', a short form of names beginning with Þór/Thor, referring to the God of Thunder in Norse mythology. Therefore, it can be interpreted that the surname Toulson may essentially evoke a sense of connection to strength and power, akin to the symbolism of Thor. As with many surnames, geographic distribution and usage over centuries might have contributed to different variants such as Tolson, Tolson, or Toolson. Researchers suggest that Toulson families were mainly based in Durham county since ancient times. Additionally, it should be noted that family names are a relatively newer concept, so it largely reflects the language constructs and customary practices of naming present at the time of its generation.
Order DNA origin analysisToulson: Where does the name Toulson come from?
The last name Toulson is most common today in Canada. According to the Canada 2016 Census, it is the 49,905th most common last name in the country, with 236 people bearing the name. Most of the people with the Toulson surname reside in Ontario, with 63 out of the total 236 living there. An additional 124 found throughout the rest of Canada, spread out across all of the other provinces.
The Toulson surname is also common in the United Kingdom. According to a UK genealogy website, the most common areas in which the name is found is the Leeds area of Yorkshire, followed by Nottinghamshire. The total number of Toulsons in the whole of the UK was recorded as 755 in 2018.
Outside of the UK and Canada, the Toulson surname is still encountered but is far less frequent than these two countries. In the United States only 119 instances of the Toulson last name have been identified in the 2010 census; this number is too low to appear in the Surname Atlas compilation. In Australia there are similarly only a small number of people with the Toulson surname.
Today, the last name Toulson remains rather rare and is most commonly found in the countries of Canada and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Toulson
The surname Toulson is an English patronymic surname derived from a given name that was originally derived from a place name. Variants of this surname include Toulson, Tolson, Towleson, and Towson. It may also have been listed as Tulson, Maullson, Maulsom, and Tolman in some old records.
The spelling of the surname Toulson has also been anglicized over the centuries. It originated from the Old English spelling, which was ‘Tokeley’. Throughout history, it has been written variously as Tolke, Taulke, Tole, Talke, Tolse, Toules, Towers, Tolles, Towles, Tolson and Toulson.
Different branches of the same family can often have different spellings of the same surname. Some families chose to modify their spelling to make it more unique, while others simply changed the spelling over time, with the pronunciation remaining the same.
A common variant of the name, as well as alternate spellings, is Towlson. This particular variant is found more often in the United States, particularly in the Midwest. It is also seen as Toulson in some instances, but the ‘Towl’ spelling is the most common. Similarly, other Common surnames found in the United States, such as Toulsen and Towles, are also derivatives of the surnames Toulson, Tolson and Towleson.
The precise origins of the name are unknown. It’s possible that it is derived from Tow or Taul, Old English female given names. The name could also simply be a localised surname for people who lived in or near the town of Tow or the village of Taul.
Another popular surname derived from the Toulson family is Mauson, which is often found in Northern England. Records suggest that this form comes from a corruption of the name Maullson. This is thought to be a variant of Maulsom, which is a derivation of the name Toulson.
Overall, the surname Toulson has several variants, spellings, and derivatives with different origins throughout England, the United States and beyond.
Famous people with the name Toulson
- Michael Toulson: British non-executive director who is a former member of the Lloyds Banking Group Board.
- Jody Toulson: British actress known for her roles in popular British TV shows such as Casualty, The Bill, and EastEnders.
- Minnie Toulson: first Grappler in Britain and winner of the inaugural Freestyle Grappling World Championships in 2004.
- Jake Toulson: British actor known for his recurring role in the Channel 4 show, Skins.
- Ryan Toulson: British footballer who currently plays for F.C. Halifax Town as a defender.
- Ashley Toulson: British sprinter and author, she was a part of the Women’s 4x400m relay team at the London 2012 Olympics.
- Julia Toulson: British composer who has written music for several well-known TV shows and films.
- Nicola Toulson: British wheelchair racer who won a gold medal in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in the 800m T54 event.
- Ryan Toulson– Australian cricketer who plays for the Sydney Rosters and the Australia national cricket side.
- Peter Toulson: British artist with works that have been exhibited in several galleries around the world.